Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-01-20

Public Instruction furnishes fun information
concerning the development OF our public scnoc
system The school population of the State
persons between the ages Of five and twenty
one years-is now 497, 7S5, an Increase OF 81, IS
over 1884 The scholars enrolled number 365, S3s
an increase of 81 ,63S during the same period
The average daily attendance was 219,90S, Al in
crease of 12,559. II viii be observed that, not
withstancing the ample educational facilitie
provided By the people OF Kansas for the edu
cation OF our youth, less than one-half of tn
school population attends the public schools
These figures, however, hardly serve as q fai
Illustration OF non-attendance. Few parent
deem IT wise to subject children under sever
years Of age to the confinement or discipline o
the school room, and except in few of tn
larger cities, where high schools are provided
boys and girls over sixteen or seventeen year
OF age rarely attend the district schools.
Tne teachers employed in 1884 numbered
s.3i2; those employed in 1886 numbered Q 3S7
The average wages paid teachers, per month
were: males, s42.02; females, SS3.S5. There has
been steady increase in teachers salaries fol
many years past.
There are in Kansas 6.791 school houses. hav
ing total of S,1SG rooms, and valued at sc, 592,
49, School buildings costing S1,o93,042 have
been erected during the past two years.
The receipts and expenditures for school pur
poses during the school year ended July 81
1886, were as follows
%.
gust J. 1885. 519.251.36; amount received from
county treasurers from district taxes, ~, $50,
61676; from State and county school funds.
sioS, 1887 from sale OF school bonds s713 79fG Is
from all other sources, Sl74,Sj9.34; making 8
total of 81. 476, 791 90.
Expenditures. - Amount paid for teachers
wages and supervision, &22l3, 521 -; for rents
repairs fuel and incidenIals s5s4 7s3 81; for dis
trict libraries and school apparatus So, $50. IN
for sites. buildings and furniture. $780, 77. 81
avdf raIl
total of s., S49o 759 leaving in hands OF district
treasurers, July 81. 1886, balance of s6e777 10
The suggestions and recommendations of the
State Superintendent, touching the investment
OF permanent school funds, county institutes
and changes in school laws, ore respectfully
commended to your attention.
HIGHER SCHOOLS
The three great educational institutions OF the
State, the University at Lawrence, the Agricul-
tural College at Manhattan, and the Normal
School at Emporia are all in q prosperous con-
dition. with q steadily increasing enrolment OF
students, constantly improving appliances for
educational work. and rapidly expanding fields
of usefulness. They all justifying, by their
results, the confidence and generous support of
the people, and the State afford to be liber-
al, though not extravagant, in providing for
their upbuilding.
The permanent fund of the University now
aggregates 11,21092; that of the Normal
School, s73,2 21, and that OF the Agricultural
College. So01 ,066.33. All Of these funds will be
increased by sales OF lands belong
ing to them.
There are complaints, occasionally, that the
State has not been liberal in providing facilities
for the higher education OF its youth. These
not well founded. Since the ad-
mission of Kansas, the appropriations made to
these three institutions, for buildings and cur
rent expenses, have aggregated 81 o., 9O4.
THE STATE UNIvERSIrY.-The reports of the
regents and other officers OF the University fur
nish full information concerning the condition,
prospects and needs of that institution. The
University is steadily growing in usefulness,
and the high rank it has attained among the
great e6ucGtionaE institutions of the country
ought to be, to our people, sourcS OF universal
pride.
The Legislature III its regular session appro-
oriated $4,000 for the erection CT D building to
De devoted to natural history. Tire building has
been completed, and is occupied f3E the pur-
pose for which it was provided.
The new department of pharmacy has been
nlly oEEssIa.Ized. and had during its 1rss year
students, enrolled.
THE STATE AGRICULTURAL CcILEGE.-Thc
work. growth and present condition OF this i'm
oortant educational institution fully detailed
n the reports of its regents and officers. The
lew college hall has been completed forty-four
lcres have been added to the farm; adld the
'aiue OF the college property has increased dur
ng the past two years fsom l45,>51.o3 III ssG,-
1850.
STATE NCssMAL SCHoGa.-The reports of the
egGnts and officers of this institution show SAat
is in a very prosperous condition. It's grid
lateS are m demand as teachers and the enzou
nent of pupils attending is steadily increasing.
During the nseal year eno1ng June 20, 1881 the
enrolment WIS 605 for the next year it reaanetl
"a: and during the present year it is believed
hat fully 500 young men and women, anxious TO
qualify themselves as pub1c educators, will DO
n attendance -
No appropriation was made to pay the: ex-
,ense of ai)praising. advertising and selling,the
ands, which aggregated $SG2.S5. An approLgia-
ion for this purpose should be made.
The Suggestions and recommendations OF the
,oard concerning changes and needed improve
nents in the school, deserve your considaHste
.ttention.
THE EDUCATIONAL BOARDS.
1t has been suggested that the three Bnmrds
Il Regents having charge, s6verally, OF the, Uni
-ersity, the Agricultural CSt1ege and the Nor
nal School, should be consolidated and that
me board be given supervision OF all these in
titutions. L do not believe that such system
# management would be practical, or aGyan-
ageous either to the State or the institutions.
Zach OF these schools occupies different FIELD,
nd the legitimate ambitions anu rivalries of
ach promote the efficiency and prosperity OF
IL. One board could not escape the suspicion,
( indeed il could avoid a real development
# partially. It's recommendations in
avor Of improvements at one Institution
would be regarded by the others rs fayoriEism;
nd thus jealousy, discomfort and aaimos3ties,
lurtful to the interests OF all would be engen-
Tered. The expense of the Boards Of Regents
night be reduced. as have elsewhere suggest
ID, by abolishing the mileage system; but
would not advise placing the management OF
he three institutions IN charge OF one bCGsrd.
THE PERMANENT school,. FUND.
The permanent school fund now aggregates
4 OI1 So 3d. of which amount 81, 001 ,327 10 is in
'esied in interest bearing bonds. This total,
however. includes -, 900 il bonds of school dis
ricts of Comanche County, $500 OF Norton
County and $1,000 OF Rice County, ali of which
are supposed TO be fraudulent. They Eere pur-
biased twelve years ago, and no interest or
principal has ever been paid upon them 1t also
Includes 100000 in bonds of the city of Law
enc issued in 1870 and 1871, which interest
vas paid until after the passage OF an act. by
he Legislature OF 1888, which, the authorities OF
claim. relieved the city from all FUR
her liability on these bonds. The permanent